Give the Gift of Great Taste this Holiday Season

Check out these great gift ideas for holiday gifts (photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com)

Everyone is looking for ways to make their holiday budget go farther without sacrificing the feelings of the season. One great way to do this is by making your own gifts. Don’t worry you don’t have to be Martha Stewart to create wonderful gifts that almost anyone on your list would love to receive. All you need is a little time, a little money, and a lot of love to create these delicious and desirable holiday gifts that you will be proud to give.

Granola Grab Bags

Filled with delicious ingredients, homemade granola packaged in easy to eat packages make a great gift for teachers, neighbors, and friends. Use decorative packaging and a handmade label to make this gift as visually appealing as it is tasty. Make sure to include a list of ingredients on the label to let your recipients know what they are getting. Try one or all of these great granola recipes:

Chocolate Bars or Bites

Make the season extra special by making your own chocolate bars or candy bites. Don’t be intimidated, with some supplies from the local craft store, making your own candy is simple. Dress up your chocolate bars with fancy labels to make individualized gifts for the special people in your life. You can make your candy bars simple milk chocolate or try one of these creative recipes.

Hot Cocoa and Marshmallows

This makes a great gift for teachers and coworkers. Start with a nice ceramic mug then add a couple packages of hot cocoa, a bag of mini-marshmallows, and a candy cane. Make your gift extra special by making the cocoa and/or marshmallows yourself.

Tea Time

Give the gift of a calm New Year by making your own blend of herbal tea. You can purchase empty teabags inexpensively in which to package your blend. Include a nice ceramic mug or, for a larger gift, a tea steeping pot. Experiment with a few different blends until you find the right one for each recipient.

Dish in a Jar

Giving a mason jar full of the ingredients to make cookies or brownies is a popular gift idea. Take this idea a little farther by thinking beyond dessert. Soups, savory breads, and other dishes can also be packaged this way and make thoughtful gifts that are sure to be used. All you need is a mason jar, a little ribbon, the dry ingredients, and the recipe to make a wonderful gift.